The rivalry between Cup Series drivers Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch is one of the things that made NASCAR so great for many years. Following the sudden passing of Busch, Keselowski is ready to see NASCAR honor his long-time competitor in a special way.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday in Charlotte, Keselowski said that Busch deserves to be immediately inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame without any waiting period.
Related: Steve O’Donnell Addresses if Kyle Busch Will Be Added to 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame
At a press conference Friday, NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell said the sport is open to including Busch in the 2027 Hall of Fame class along with Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Larry Phillips. However, a decision on whether or not he’ll have the three-year wait requirement waived and automatically inducted won’t be made for some time.
There’s certainly no doubt that Busch is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He holds the all-time record for wins across all three series, and he’s among the all-time Cup Series wins leaders. Busch is one of the all-time greats and unquestionably belongs in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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There is, however, a question about whether or not including Busch in the 2027 class might overshadow those who are already being inducted. While it would be fitting for Busch and Harvick to go into the Hall of Fame together, some believe it would be fairer if they each got their day to be honored.
There is another way the Hall of Fame could honor Busch without including him in next year’s class. NASCAR could waive the waiting period and put him on the ballot for 2028. Then, voters would have the chance to make him the first-ever driver inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame unanimously.
Related: NASCAR Drivers Pay Their Respects to Kyle Busch
Keselowski does have his own plan to honor Busch. He shared that if he wins the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, he will perform Busch’s iconic bow to the fans in honor of the all-time great who inspired so many other drivers. It’s also believed that anyone who wins on Sunday will do the bow.
Sunday is going to be an extremely emotional time for all involved in NASCAR, with Busch’s absence felt across the entire sport and fan base. While it will be a difficult day, racing on Sunday is exactly what Busch would’ve wanted, and the aggressive driving needed to win the Coca-Cola 600 is the perfect way to respect everything he brought to the sport.
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